 | Bob Gabordi is executive editor of the Tallahassee Democrat and Tallahassee.com. He can be reached through this blog, at bgabordi@tallahassee.com or (850) 599-2177 |
I saw something on a football field over the weekend that I had never seen before and hope never to have to see again: players from two teams meeting at midfield, shaking hands and hugging prior to the kickoff of a huge game.
Tom Hanks says there is no crying in baseball, but I’m sure there was a tear or two on Mountaineer Field as players and coaches from the University of Connecticut and West Virginia University, Big East conference rivals, shared a moment. I know there were in the stands as fans of the rival schools embraced.
Two days later, the UConn football team faced a challenge far greater than football: They helped bury a teammate, cornerback Jasper Howard, of South Florida.
On game day, fans wearing the Huskies’ blue and Mountaineers’ gold stood side by side holding up signs with Howard’s No. 6, cheering as UConn players ran out of the tunnel past a poster saying: “Today we are all Huskies.” The poster was signed by WVU players, coaches, members of the band, cheerleaders and fans.
Howard, 20, was fatally stabbed in the abdomen during an altercation on campus in Storrs, Conn., about 12:30 a.m. Oct. 18 after a party at the student union, according to reports. No one has been charged in his death.
That was just a few hours after the junior had a career-high 11 tackles in a 38-25 win over Louisville. He was the defensive star, forcing a fumble as Louisville was about to score with UConn up 21-13 in the third quarter.
“He was someone who had a tremendous heart … he was on track for greatness," said Huskies head coach Randy Edsall during Howard’s funeral service. “He was going to graduate. He was going to have his degree. He was doing everything to make himself the best student, the best person and the best athlete that he could be.”
It was Edsall who was called to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford to identify Howard’s body. He then had to call Howard’s mother, JoAngila, and inform his players.
At a press conference later that day, Edsall told reporters:
“There's nothing written in the manual in how to deal with these situations. But I know this — this is a strong team, with strong leadership, and we'll get through it.”
Less than a week later, fans of both teams were standing and cheering as the Huskies ran onto the field at West Virginia. The TV broadcasters could barely speak as teammates carried his No. 6 jersey and helmet onto the field.
Somehow, they managed to play football after all that. Less than 10 seconds into the game, UConn was down 7-0 as the opening kickoff was run back for a touchdown. The Huskies battled back, but lost 28-24.
But as far as I was concerned, they won in a rout. More to the point, all of sports won. This was a meaningful game in the Big East standings and both teams’ post-season chances. It was more meaningful in the game of life.
Two teams: One showing courage they probably didn’t know they had; the other showing class and respect. Both provided a fleeting reminder to football fans everywhere what sports and games ought to be about.
Even post-game UConn blogs lacked the usual vitriol that comes of a tough loss. One WVU fan, posting on a Hartford Courant blog summed it up:
“UConn should be very proud of the men that took the field in Morgantown on Saturday. They showed a lot of heart and represented both their university and Jaz very well. … We feel your pain. May God bless UConn and give you all comfort to carry on. As the poster at the UConn entrance stated, ‘Today we are all Huskies’.”
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